Former midfielder Phan Quý Hoàng Lâm has died at the age of 36. Photo toquoc.vn

HÀ NỘI — Former midfielder Phan Quý Hoàng Lâm died on May 19 at the age of 36.

A teammate from the national team said Lâm had suffered a stroke.

The news has shocked many football fans.

Lâm was born in 1984 into a footballing family. He was only 1.6m tall but possessed good dribbling and passing skills.

He became a key player for his hometown team Bình Định, helping them to finish third in V.League 1 in 2006, before moving to Đồng Tâm Long An under future Vietnamese national team coach Henrique Calisto.

The Portuguese coach later took over the national team and led them to victory at the AFF Cup 2008.

Lâm was called up to the squad but did not make an appearance.

When Đồng Tâm Long An were relegated in 2011, Lâm returned to Bình Định before retiring.

In 2012, he got married and moved away from football.

Lâm's younger brother is the famous table tennis player Phan Hoàng Tường Giang who played for the Ministry of Public Security and the national team for many years. — VNS